The Devon Tavern is one of Ashburton's longest serving pubs, tracing its history back to 1879 when it opened as the Grand Central Hotel. After being sold to the Ashburton Licensing Trust in 1950, it was renamed The Devon Tavern, keeping the connection to the English county of Devon that runs through Ashburton's own naming. The tavern serves hot meals seven days a week from 11am until late, with a Wednesday Roast option advertised on its Facebook page.
Alongside the main bar, The Devon is home to Feeney's Garden Bar & Function Room, opened in 1977 as the first family bar in the area and named after Pat Feeney, the tavern's first bar manager. Feeney's is a separate function space with a well-manicured garden and indoor/outdoor flow, used for birthdays, 21sts, engagements, meetings, seminars, weddings and work events. The Devon offers catering for functions including buffets, platters, pizzas and BBQs, with outside catering also welcomed.
The tavern pours cold Guinness on tap and hosts live music, and was recognised as a Restaurant Guru 2024 Recommended venue. With its warm atmosphere and welcoming hospitality, The Devon positions itself simply as "your local."
The Devon Tavern, on Victoria Street in Ashburton, is one of the town's longest serving pubs, with a history stretching back to 1879 when it first opened as the Grand Central Hotel. In 1950, the hotel was sold to the Ashburton Licensing Trust and renamed The Devon Tavern, a nod to the English county of Devon that also inspired the naming of Ashburton itself.
The Devon describes itself simply as "your local," and its long history in the town backs that up. The tavern's warm atmosphere and welcoming hospitality are central to its identity, aiming to make visitors feel at home from the moment they walk in the door.
The Devon serves hot meals seven days a week, from 11am until late. A Wednesday Roast option is also available, advertised through the tavern's Facebook page rather than its printed menu, so it's worth checking there for the latest details before heading in on a Wednesday.
In 1977, The Devon opened the first family bar in the area, an addition that gave families a place to relax together. That space became Feeney's, named after Pat Feeney, the tavern's first bar manager. Today, Feeney's operates as a separate function room off the main bar, complete with a well-manicured garden and a genuine indoor/outdoor flow. It's used for a wide range of events, including birthdays, 21sts, engagements, meetings, seminars, weddings and work functions.
For functions at Feeney's or elsewhere, The Devon offers a range of catering options including buffets, platters, pizzas and BBQs, with outside catering also welcomed. A dedicated Platter Menu is available to download for anyone planning an event, and enquiries for room hire can be made directly by email.
Beyond the food, The Devon pours cold Guinness on tap and regularly hosts live music, rounding out its role as a proper community pub rather than just somewhere to eat. That combination of history, hospitality and entertainment helped earn The Devon a Restaurant Guru 2024 Recommended listing.
The Devon Tavern can be reached by phone on 03 308 7129 or by email at [email protected], including for enquiries about hiring Feeney's for a function or event.